Can filling apparatus and methods and apparatus and methods for conveying and controlling the feeding of wet materials

ABSTRACT

Apparatus and methods for filling cans with measured amounts of wet material, having improved methods and procedures for the conveying and controlling the feeding of such materials. Feeding from a conveyer belt employs a deflecting barrier having two or more adjacent rotating rollers. The height of the column of material maintained in an upright tube of the can filling unit is controlled by an electrical probe assembly and associated electronic circuitry. The probe of the assembly is positioned above the column of material, and the arrangement is such that when it is contacted by the upper surface of the column, the associated circuitry effects a reduction in the feed of material to the column.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to can filling apparatus and methodsapplicable to the handling of wet food materials, such as blanchedspinach. It also relates to apparatus and methods for conveying andfeeding such materials to one or more stations where can filling unitsmay be located, and to apparatus and methods for automaticallycontrolling feeding of material.

In my copending application Ser. No. 669,327, filed Mar. 22, 1976 nowU.S. Pat. No. 4,019,547 and entitled "Can Filling Method and Apparatus",there is disclosed an apparatus and method which is applicable forfilling cans with wet food material, like blanched spinach, with a highdegree of accurracy with respect with the weight of material supplied toeach can. The apparatus in that instance makes use of an upright tubeopen at its upper end to receive the wet material, and having means atits lower end to successively cut off equal volumes of the materials forintroduction into underlying cans. The upper open end of the tubecommunicates with a hopper, and feed means delivers the material to aregion from which it is dropped into the hopper. More particularly, asshown in said application, the feed means consists of an elevatingconveyer which takes the material from the lower supply bin and deliversit to fluffing means overlying the hopper of the tube, which in turnpermits the material to drop into the tube. In the operation of suchapparatus, it has been customary to provide a supply conveyor whichconveys the blanched spinach to the feed bin of one or more of the canfilling units. A workman at each station controls operation of ahydraulically powered gate that is moved transversely back and forthover the conveyer belt to fill the feed supply bin. This method has beenfound objectionable because when one conveyor is supplying, say, eightfilling units located at stations distributed along the conveyer, one ormore of the stations may not receive sufficient spinach for continuousuninterrupted operation.

The claw type elevating conveyer disclosed in said U.S. Pat. No.4,019,547 Ser. No. 669,327 which raises the spinach from the feed bin toa level above the hopper connected to the tube is arranged to drop thespinach on the rotating fluffer. A rake-off conveyer is disposedimmediately above the discharge end of the elevating conveyor and isdriven at a speed somewhat greater than that of the elevating conveyer,whereby the material is dragged off the end of the elevating conveyerand dropped upon the fluffer. It has been found that this type of feedarrangement is subject to variations in the rate of feed, thuscomplicating the problem of maintaining the column of material in theupright tube at a constant height. In addition the claw type ofelevating conveyer is expensive and difficult to keep clean.

For the purpose of automatically maintaining a column of material ofconstant height in the tube of the can filling assembly, pneumaticsensors are disclosed in said U.S. Pat. No. 4,019,587 Ser. No. 669,327,which function to shut off the drive to the elevating conveyer when thecolumn of material exceeds a predetermined height. It has been foundthat this type of control is not as sensitive or reliable as desired,which is attributed in part to condensation of moisture in the smallpassages or orifices through which air is discharged into one side ofthe vertical tube. In addition, such a sensing arrangement requires useof a tube sufficiently long to provide an extension at its upper endwhere the sensing devices are located.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION AND SUMMARY

In general it is an object of the present invention to improve uponmachines of the type disclosed in said U.S. Pat. No. 4,019,547, havingreference particularly to improving the machine with respect to thefeeding of wet material to the can filling apparatus, and controllingthe height of the column of wet material in the tube into which the wetmaterial is introduced.

Another object is to provide improved means for diverting or shearingoff wet material like spinach from a conveyer belt which will performits desired function without jamming or hang-up of the material. In thisconnection the invention is characterized by the use of a barrierdisposed across the upper surface of the conveyer belt and consisting ofa plurality of driven rollers arranged in parallel juxtaposition anddisposed adjacent the conveyor belt surface.

Another object is to provide improved feed means for delivering materialfrom the main supply conveyor to regions overlying the can fillingunits, which provides more uniform feeding of the wet material to thetubes of the can filling units.

Another object is to provide improved means for sensing when the columnof wet material in the upright tube reaches a predetermined height,which is simpler and more effective than the pneumatic means disclosedin said U.S. Pat. No. 4,019,547. In this connection, the invention makesuse of an electrically conductive probe which is disposed whereby itsupper end is in the upper portion of the upright tube and which iscontacted when the surface level of the column of material reaches apredetermined height. The probe assembly is constructed and operated insuch a manner that a stream of air is continuously discharged downwardlyabout the probe, thereby preventing any hang-up of wet material on theprobe or its surrounding casing, or short-circuiting due to wetting.

Another object is to improve the means located in the region above theupright tube for feeding the wet material and causing the same to dropinto the tube, which functions to reduce or interrupt the feed when thecolumn of material in the tube exceeds a predetermined height. The feedmeans is characterized by use of a surge hopper which receives materialfrom a distributing conveyer and delivers it to a feed conveyor, thelatter being driven by motive means which is automatically disabled whenthe height of the column of wet material in the upright tube reaches apredetermined level.

In general, the sensing apparatus forming a part of the inventionconsists of a downwardly extending electrically conductive probedisposed above the upper surface of the material, the height of which isto be sensed, the probe being surrounded by a housing or casing whichforms a gas flow passage which is open about the probe at its lower end.Means is provided for continuously supplying a stream of air or gas tothe housing whereby the air stream is continuously discharged downwardlyabout the probe. The probe is connected to electronic circuitry whichserves to indicate contact of the material with the probe. Such a probeis incorporated with the can filling apparatus disclosed in said U.S.Pat. No. 4,019,547, whereby the probe is disposed in the upper endportion of the upright tube in which the column of material ismaintained. The electrical circuitry is arranged to control the meansemployed for feeding material to the upper end of the upright tube ofthe can filling means when the height of the column of material in thetube reaches a predetermined level. The invention also includes themethod involved when the apparatus is used for the purposes intended.

Further objects and features of the invention will appear from thefollowing description in which the preferred embodiment has been setforth in detail in conjunction with the accompanying drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view schematically illustrating anapparatus of the general type disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,019,547,together with a distribution conveyor and means for diverting materialfrom the conveyer or for feeding the material to the can filling portionof the apparatus.

FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view illustrating the means employed fordiverting material from the distribution conveyor to the hopper of themeans illustrated in FIG. 1 for feeding the material to the can fillingpart of the apparatus.

FIG. 3 is a detail in section taken along the line 3--3 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a schematic view in plan illustrating a plurality of canfilling units located at different stations along a distributionconveyer and all being supplied with wet material from the distributionconveyer.

FIG. 5 is an end view, partly in section, taken on the line 5--5 of FIG.2 and showing some of the parts for feeding material to the can fillingmeans.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the probe assembly.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 7--7 of FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a side elevational view partly in section illustrating themanner in which the probe assembly is assembled with the hopper of theupright tube and is connected with circuitry for controlling the feedmeans.

FIG. 9 is a side elevational view of the assembly for mounting therollers and for enabling certain adjustments of the rollers.

FIG. 10 is a plan view of the assembly shown in FIG. 9.

FIG. 11 is an end view looking toward the left hand end of FIG. 9.

FIG. 12 is an end view looking toward the right hand end of FIG. 9.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The apparatus as illustrated in FIG. 1 consists generally of a canfilling unit 10 which is similar to the filling unit illustrated in FIG.3 of said Pat. No. 4,019,547. It consists of a vertical tube 11 carriedby the side structural members 12, which in turn are pivotally connectedto the ends of the upper and lower shaking levers 13 and 14. Theselevers are pivotally carried by the structural member 16 of the machineframe. They are also pivotally connected to a vertical bar 17 which inturn is connected by rod 18 with the eccentric 19. The eccentric isdriven by a suitable motor (not shown) whereby vertical shaking movementis applied to the counterweight bar 17, to the structural members 12 andto the associated tube 11. The feed upper end of the tube 11communicates with the hopper or funnel 21, which is open at its upperend to receive the feed material. At the lower end of the tube there isan assembly designated generally at 22 consisting of a filler pockettogether with a cut-off knife and a closure plate, the knife and closureplate being driven by suitable means such as the motor 23, all asdescribed in said copending application. Below the assembly 22 there isa can conveyer 24 for the purpose of presenting cans 26 to positionsimmediately below the assembly 22 for successive filling.

As described in said copending application, wet material like blanchedspinach is fed to the region above the hopper 21 and dropped into thehopper and the tube 11, thereby forming and maintaining a column of wetmaterial within the tube. Assuming that the column of material ismaintained at a substantially constant height, the material during itsdownward progression is subjected to gradually increasing compaction,with the development of a predetermined amount of compaction in thelower portion of the tube. Thus when successive portions of equal volumeare severed from the lower end of the column, they are of substantiallyconstant weight, since the material in the bottom portion of the columnhas a constant weight-to-volume ratio

The improved conveyer and feed means of the present invention are asfollows. A belt-type distribution conveyer 31 is provided which has arelatively smooth or unobstructed belt surface. In a normal plantinstallation this distribution conveyer serves to deliver material to aplurality of filling units. The upper run of the conveyer 31 is providedwith the usual side plates 32, and at each station where material is tobe supplied to a can filling unit, there is a barrier 33 which extendsacross the surface of the belt at an angle of less than 90° (e.g., 45°), and which serves to shear off and divert a certain amount of materialfrom the conveyer and deliver it into the side surge hopper 34. At itsupper end the hopper 34 is open at one side (FIG. 5) as indicated at 36,to the space above the conveyer belt 31. Thus it receives wet materialdisplaced from the upper surface of the belt by the barrier 33. Thelower open end of the surge hopper 34 delivers the material to the upperrun of the endless belt conveyer 37. The frame portion 35 of theconveyer 37 as shown in FIG. 5 is pivotally carried at 35a by a suitablesupport frame. The frame is connected by rods 38 to suitable mechanicaleccentrics 39, whereby the conveyer is shaken in a vertical direction byoperation of a motor connected to the common shaft of the eccentrics. Atthe discharge end of the conveyer 37 there is a cross-conveyer 40 whichas shown in FIG. 1 carries the material to a region directly over thecentral portion of the hopper 21, and then drops it downwardly upon thefluffing wheel 41. The conveyer 40 is driven by another motor (notshown). The fluffing wheel is carried directly by the hopper and isdriven by suitable motor means. It may be constructed as shown in saidcopending application.

The barrier means 33 for diverting the wet material from the conveyercan be understood by reference to FIGS. 2 and 3. It consists of anassembly of rollers 42 and 43 which extend parallel to each other andwhich are arranged to extend across the upper run of the conveyer belt31 at an angle of less than 90°. In practice, it has been found that anangle of 45° gives good results. The positioning of the rollers is suchthat the lowermost roller is in contact with the conveyer belt, whilethe upper roller has its peripheral surface spaced a slight distancefrom the peripheral surface of the lower roller, as for example, a spaceof the order of 0.010 inches. As will be presently described, at one endof the assembly the ends of the rollers 42 and 43 are carried by asuitable bearing block, and the other extremities are carried by a gearbox and driven by a suitable means. The direction of rotation isindicated in FIG. 3, and is such that the lower roller rotates clockwisewhen the conveyer is moving from left to right, and the upper roller islikewise driven in the same direction. Thus the peripheral surface ofthe lower roller adjacent the conveyer moves in a direction opposite tothe conveyer movement, and the lower portion of the surface of the upperroller 43 moves over the adjacent surface of the roller 42 in adirection opposite to the conveyer movement. It will also be noted inFIG. 3 that the line of centers of the rollers 42 and 43, as viewed fromone side of the conveyer, is inclined in the direction of conveyermovement. As will be presently explained, the rollers are preferablymounted in such a manner that the angle of the line of centers withrespect to the conveyer belt may be adjusted between substantially 0°and 90°. In practice, good results are obtained by angles between about20° and 60°. By changing the angles of the line of centers with respectto the conveyer belt, the overall height of the carrier can be adjusted,and this adjustment serves to adjust the amount of wet material which issheared and diverted from the conveyer.

The rollers 42 and 43 may vary in size and may be of the same ordifferent diameters. In practice, the rollers have been of the samesize, ranging from 1 to 11/2 inches in diameter.

The method of operation of the diverter described above is as follows.As shown in FIG. 3 a layer of wet material 44 is being moved along bythe conveyer belt. The rollers 42 and 43 are driven constantly asdescribed above, as for example, at a speed of from 600 to 1000revolutions per minute. The mass of wet material being urged by theconveyer belt toward the rollers 42 and 43 is subjected to shearingforces due to the inclination of the axes of the rollers to the conveyerbelt. Assuming that the mass of material is of a height substantiallygreater than the overall height of the rollers 42 and 43, a lowerportion of the mass of material is sheared off and diverted laterallyfrom the lower part of the mass and discharged toward one side of theconveyer and into the surge hopper 34. When surge hopper 34 becomescompletely filled, which may occur during periods that the conveyors 37and 40 are not operating, blocking of further material causes theconveyed material to pass over the barrier even though the normal depthof the material on the belt is not greater or even less than the barrierheight. During this shearing and diverting action the wet material(e.g., spinach) does not find its way between the roller 42 and theupper surface of the belt, or between the rollers, due to the manner inwhich the rollers are continuously rotated and their close apposition toeach other and the contact with the upper surface of the belt. Likwise,there is no tendency for leafy or stringy wet material to become woundabout the rollers. When the angle between the line of centers betweenthe rollers and the conveyer belt is increased toward 90° or vertical,the forces tending to divert material to one side of the conveyer areincreased and this together with the increased height of the barrierserves to increase the amount of material being diverted. Again assumingthat the thickness of the layer of material on the conveyer belt issubstantially greater than the overall height of the rollers 42 and 43or that the adjacent surge hopper is completely filled, the materialthat is not diverted and which passes over the rollers proceeds on tothe next station. It will be evident that by supplying sufficientmaterial to the conveyer, the material may be diverted at a plurality ofsuccessive stations to separate can filling units.

While the barrier 33 described above employs two rollers, additionalrollers can be employed provided they are all driven in the samedirection.

FIG. 1 illustrates a probe assembly 46 disposed within the hopper 21 andextending downwardly to a point within the upper portion of the tube 11.As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, this assembly consists of a conductor 47which has an end portion or tip 48 functioning as a probe. The conductorextends within a tube 49 and is surrounded by suitable insulatingmaterial 51, such as epoxy resin, in the space about the conductor 47.Tube 49 is disposed within a larger housing 52 which may be annular insection and dimensioned to provide a space or flow passage 53surrounding the tube 49. The housing 52 is shown provided with a fitting54 connected to the air hose or pipe 56 whereby air under pressure canbe continuously supplied to the housing to form a continuously flowingstream of air or other gas through the housing and out through the openend which generally surrounds the probe 48. The conductor 47 isconnected to a lead wire 57 which connects with suitable electroniccircuitry. The probe assembly is disposed within the hopper 21substantially in the manner illustrated in FIG. 8. The upper end of theassembly may be provided with a suitable bracket 58 for removableattachment to the hopper 21, and the lower end is disposed whereby theprobe 48 extends in a general vertical direction toward the materialwithin the tube 11. The electronic circuitry is illustrated in FIG. 8.Block 59 which connects with lead 57 represents electronic circuitryresponsive to contact of the probe 48 with the upper surface layer ofmaterial within the tube 11. Such material is indicated at 60 in FIG. 8and the upper level at 61. When the surface 61 reaches a predeterminedlevel or height, electrical contact is made to the probe 48 and the wetmaterial, and a conductive path is established from the probe throughthe wet conductive material to the grounded metal of the tube 11. Thecircuitry is so constructed that it generates a signal response to theestablishment of such a conductive path through the wet material, andthe response is applied to the switch relay 62 which controls energizingof the motors 63a, 63b, 63c for driving the shaker conveyer, theeccentric 39 and the cross-conveyer 37. As indicated in FIG. 8, thesignal generated by circuitry 59 can be applied to a solenoid valve 64which controls supply of hydraulic fluid under pressure to the hydraulicmotors 63a, 63b and 63c.

To prevent false signals due to momentary contact with the probe andrapid cycling "on-off" of the motors 63a, 63b and 63c, the circuitryincludes an electronic time delay which can be adjusted to a selectedperiod over a range of from 1/2 to 11/2 seconds. If the contact does notpersist for the time delay, no signal response is generated. Thus wetmaterial (e.g., spinach leaves) may rain down about the probe withocassional momentary contacts of a duration less than the time delaywithout stopping the driving motors. The airflow downwardly about theprobe also tends to minimize false signals by blanketing the probe insuch a manner as to prevent substantially continuous contact of theprobe with falling wet material, as for example wet leaves which maysimultaneously contact both the probe and the top of the column.Circuitry of this type is commercially available. Particular circuitrythat has been found satisfactory is manufactured by ElectronicsCorporation of America and is identified as type 22DJ9, Model 3000.

As previously mentioned, air is discharged continuously from the lowerend of the probe assembly and about the probe 48. This continuous flowof air or other gas serves to prevent moisture from entering the probeassembly, thus avoiding possible short-circuiting or false operation. Inaddition, it maintains the lower end of the assembly free of materialbeing delivered downwardly into the hopper, and avoids any hang-up ofmaterial on the lower end of the housing 52 or on the probe 48. Also itassists in preventing false operations as previously described.

FIGS. 9-12 illustrate mounting and supporting means for the rollers 42and 43 which enable the various desired adjustments. It consists of aframe 66 comprising the parallel and generally upright members 67 whichhave their upper ends fixed to the end portions of the crossmember 68.The end portions of member 68 are also fixed to the upright members 69,which at their upper ends are fixed to the cross-member 71. Uprightmembers 72 are tubes that may be square in section and which slidablyinterfit the members 69. These members 72 are connected to suitablemeans whereby they can be raised or lowered in unison to a desiredadjusted position. The means illustrated consists of sprockets 73 whichengage a common endless chain 74 that is normally tensioned by the idlersprocket 75 carried by the adjustable arm 76. The sprockets 73 are fixedto shafts 77 which extend downwardly into the structural members 69. Theupper portions of these shafts are carried by bearing assemblies 78which are mounted upon the upper ends of the members 69. The lowerportions of the shafts within the structural members 69 are threaded andengage nuts 77a that are secured to the upper ends of the tubes 72. Themeans illustrated for simultaneously turning the sprockets 73 consistsof shafts 79 and 80 which have meshing miter gears 81 and 82. Shaft 79is carried by the journal blocks 83 that are mounted upon thecorresponding vertical structural member 69, and shaft 80 is carried bybearings 84 and 85 that are mounted upon a bracket 86 that is secured tothe corresponding structural member 69. A crank 87 is secured to theshaft 80 for manual rotation. A gear 88 fixed to the upper end of shaft79 engages a gear 89 which is secured to the shaft upon which thesprocket 73 is mounted. Thus manual rotation of crank 87 serves torotate the sprocket 73 whereby both sprockets are rotated in the samedirection to raise or lower the tubes 72.

In place of the means described above for raising or lowering therollers, other types of elevating and lowering means can be employed,such as simpler mechanism of the lever type.

At one end of the assembly one end of each of the rollers 42 and 43 isjournalled in a gear box 91. For purposes of adjustment, a sector plate92 is secured to the gear box and is provided with a plurality of holesdisposed along an arc having at its center the axis of the roller 42.The gear box 91 together with its sector plate 92 is carried by thelower end of the corresponding tube member 72, the arrangement beingsuch that the gear box may be turned relative to member 72 about theaxis of the lower roller 42. A suitable driving motor 93, such as one ofthe hydraulic fluid type, is mounted upon the housing of the gear box91, and the gears within this box are such that both of the rollers 42and 43 are driven in the same direction and at the same speed.

The other ends of the rollers 42 and 43 are journalled in the bearingblock 94, which also is secured to a sector plate 96 corresponding tothe sector plate 92. This block is also carried by the lower end of thecorresponding member 72 in such a manner as to permit its rotation aboutthe axis of the lower roller 42.

Means is provided for adjusting the position of the rollers 42 and 43relative to the underlying conveyer. To facilitate such adjustment andto maintain the sectors 92 and 96 locked during normal operation, areleasable locking pin arrangement is provided as follows. Two alignedrock levers 97 and 98 are mounted on the exterior side of the mountingmember 67 by brackets 99 and 100. The adjacent ends of these levers areloosely connected at 101. A clevis 102 is pivotally connected with thelower end of lever 98, and a similar clevis 103 is pivotally connectedto lever 97. Lever 97 has an upper extension 104 to which the ring orbail 106 is attached for manual operation. Clevis 102 is attached to arod 107 which forms a lock pin 108 for engaging one of the holes 109 ofthe sector 92. Clevis 103 similarly connects with the link rod 111 whichin turn connects with the clevis 113. One arm of a rock lever 114, whichlikewise is carried by the corresponding frame member 67, is connectedto clevis 113 and the other arm lever connects with clevis 116. Rod 117is attached to clevis 116 and its end portion 118 forms a lock pinadapted to engage in one of the holes 119 of the sector plate 96.

Normally the assembly described above may be urged to locking positionby spring means (not shown) with the lock pins 111 and 118 engaged incorresponding ones of the holes of sector plates 92 and 96. When it isdesired to change the relative positioning of the rollers 42 and 43, theoperator manually engages the ring 106 and pulls outwardly whereby thepins 111 and 118 are simultaneously retracted from the sector plqtes 92and 96, thus permitting these plates together with the gear box 91 andthe bearing block 94 to be rotated about the axis of the lower roller42. After the desired adjustment has been made, return of the lever 97to its normal position shown in FIG. 8 serves to lock the sectors in thenew adjusted position. The gear box and bearing block 94 are shownsecured to a rigid yoke 95 to prevent angular twisting of one relativeto the other.

When the assembly shown in FIGS. 1-12 is installed to operate upon theupper run of a conveyer belt, the frame members 67 are located at thesides of the conveyer, and their lower ends are fixed to the conveyerframework or to a separate framework which is stationary with respect tothe conveyer frame. As previously explained, the rollers are arranged toextend at an angle to the direction of movement of the conveyer belt, asfor example, an angle of from 30° to 45°. The lower portion of theperipheral surface of roller 42 is disposed to contact the upper smoothsurface of the conveyer belt, the contacting pressure being sufficientto prevent any of the wet material from finding its way between thisroller and the belt. The amount of contacting pressure can be adjustedby turning the crank 87. In addition to this possible adjustment turningof the crank 87 makes it possible to elevate the rollers from the beltconveyer to an out-of-the-way position where it does not act upon thematerial being conveyed. When so positioned, no material is acted uponby the rollers.

FIG. 4 schematically illustrates how a plant installation may include aplurality of can filling units arranged along a distribution conveyer.The can filling units A-F are distributed along the length of thedistribution conveyer 31, and each unit is provided with material by theaction of the barriers 33 of the roller type as previously described. Acommon supply conveyer 31a may supply the wet material to a number ofconveyers 31 distributed within the plant. An additional barrier unit 33of the roller type can be used to transfer a proper amount of materialfrom conveyer 31a to conveyer 31. Each of the barrier units 33 is of aproper height with a proper inclination to divert a desired amount ofmaterial to its corresponding can filling unit. Thus for the first unitA a sufficient amount of material is sheared from the bottom of the massfor handling the capacity of the corresponding can filling apparatus,but leaving a sufficient amount of material to spill over the barrier tosupply the remaining units. Thus assuming, for example, that there areeight units distributed along the distribution conveyer with a propersupply of material being carried by the distribution conveyer, all ofthe eight units are provided with proper amounts of the material forcontinuous can filling operations, without manual labor or manuallysupervised diverting equipment.

In the foregoing description, reference is made to conveying, feedingand can filling operation of various wet materials. Particular referenceis made to blanched leaf spinach which is a limp leafy material. Otherwet materials that may be handled include sauerkraut which is limp andstringy, and blanched french sliced green beans. Also materials havingsome of the same properties of the foregoing materials are shoestringcarrots and beets, and blanched leafy vegetables such as cabbage, kaleand collard greens.

While the roller assembly for diverting material from a conveyer isdeemed desirable for use with can filling apparatus of the typedescribed, it may be used for other purposes where it is desired toshear off and divert material from a conveyer belt, and particularlymaterials which cannot be effectively diverted by conventional means.

What is claimed is:
 1. In material conveying apparatus applicable toconveying wet material, a belt conveyer, at least two first and secondparallel rollers extending across and overlying an upwardly faced run ofthe conveyer, said run moving in one direction and having a smooth uppersurface for supporting and conveying wet material, the first rollerhaving its peripheral surface in juxtaposition with the belt surface,the second roller having its peripheral surface disposed injuxtaposition with the peripheral surface of the first roller, saidrollers as viewed in plan extending across the belt at an angle lessthan 90° and means for driving the rollers in the same direction ofrotation, the direction of rotation being such that the lower portion ofthe peripheral surface of the first roller turns in a direction oppositeto the direction of movement of the conveyer belt underlying the same,said rollers forming barrier means for diverting wet material off oneside of the belt.
 2. Material conveying apparatus as in claim 1 in whichthe axes of the rollers are coincident with a plane that is inclinedtoward the direction of movement of the conveyer belt.
 3. Apparatus asin claim 1 in which the axes of the rollers are coincident with a commonplane and means is provided for adjusting the positioning of the rollersrelative to the conveyer belt to vary the inclination of said planerelative to the surface of the belt.
 4. Apparatus as in claim 1 togetherwith means for journalling and supporting the ends of the rollers. 5.Apparatus as in claim 4 in which the means for journalling andsupporting the ends of the rollers enables raising of the rollers to anout-of-the way position relative to the belt.
 6. Apparatus for conveyingwet material and for introducing measured amounts of such material intocans, comprising an upright tube having a feed hopper communicating withits upper open end for receiving moist material, means at the lower endof the tube for continually severing measured amounts of the material,the material in the tube forming a column that is subject to increasingcompaction as it progresses to the lower end of the tube from the upperend, a conveyer belt for moving the wet material in one direction to aregion located at a level above the upper end of the tube, means in saidregion for diverting wet material from one side of the conveyer belt, asurge hopper having an upper open end disposed to receive the divertedmaterial, and means for receiving the wet material from the lower end ofthe surge hopper and for dropping the same into the feed hopper, saidmeans for divering wet material from the moving conveyer belt consistingof rollers extending across and overlying an upwardly faced run of theconveyer, said rollers being in juxtaposition, with a fist roller beingin juxtaposition with the upper surface of the conveyer belt, saidrollers being parallel to each other and extending at an angle acrossthe conveyer belt that is less than 90°, and means for driving therollers in the same direction of rotation, the direction of rotationbeing such that the lower portion of the lowermost roller turns in adirection opposite to the direction of movement of the conveyer belt. 7.A method for diverting wet material from the upper run of a beltconveyer that is moving in one direction, the method comprisingpositioning at least two parallel rollers to extend across the overliethe upper run of the conveyer with the rollers extending at an angle ofless than 90° to said direction of movement of the conveyer, driving therollers in the same direction of rotation, causing the lowermost rollerto have its lower peripheral surface in contact with the conveyer andthe second roller in close proximity with the first roller, thedirection of rotation of the rollers being such that the lowerperipheral surface of the first roller moves in a direction opposite tothe direction of the movement of the conveyer, the rollers forming abarrier which shears off the wet material and diverts the same from theconveyer.
 8. A method as in claim 7 in which the axes of the rollers arecoincident with a plane that is inclined in the direction of movement ofthe conveyer belt.
 9. A method as in claim 8 in which the inclination ofthe plane is adjusted to vary the amount of material diverted from theconveyer.
 10. In a method for conveying wet material and for introducingmeasured amounts of such material into cans, the method making use of anupright tube having its upper open end communicating with a feed hopperfor receiving moist material and having means at the lower end of thetube for continually severing measured amounts of the material, aconveyor belt being employed for moving the wet material in onedirection to a region at a level above the upper end of the tube, themethod comprising diverting wet material from one side of the conveyorbelt, receiving the diverted material in an upright surge hopper,feeding the wet material from the lower end of the surge hopper to theregion above the feed hopper and then dropping the material into thefeed hopper whereby a column of the material is maintained within thetube in which the wet material is diverted from the moving conveyer beltby positioning at least two rollers across the upwardly faced run of theconveyer with the rollers being in parallel relationship and in closejuxtaposition with the lowermost roller being in contact with the uppersurface of the conveyer belt, the rollers extending at an angle acrossthe conveyer belt that is less than 90° to form a barrier extendingacross the conveyer, and driving the rollers in the same direction ofrotation, the direction of rotation being such that the lower peripheralsurface of the lowermost roller turns in a direction opposite to thedirection of movement of the conveyer belt.